A
wildly imaginative dianoetic rambling concerning the the “basic
text” of Alcoholics Anonymous (viz. the Big Book) (our comments in
red print)
Chapter 2 There Is A Solution (pp. 17-20)
“Chapter
2
THERE
IS A SOLUTION
We,
of ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS, know thousands of men and women who were
once just as hopeless as Bill. Nearly all have recovered. They
have solved the drink problem [ie.
no longer drink and no longer want to drink]
We
are average Americans. All sections of this country and many of its
occupations are represented, as well as many political,
economic, social, and religious backgrounds [ie.
not ALL Christians and nowadays increasingly areligious]. We
are people who normally would not mix. But there exists among us a
fellowship, a friendliness, and an understanding which is
indescribably wonderful. We are like the passengers of a great liner
the moment after rescue from shipwreck when camaraderie, joyousness
and democracy
[Step Nazis take note!] pervade the
vessel from steerage to Captain’s table. Unlike the feelings of the
ship’s passengers, however, our joy in escape from disaster does
not subside as we go our individual ways. The feeling of having
shared in a common peril is one element in the powerful cement which
binds us. But that in itself would never have held us together as we
are now joined.
The
tremendous fact for every one of us is that we have discovered a
common solution. We have a way out on which we can absolutely
agree [there
may be general agreement on the method but not on its mode of
application eg 'shared' experience as opposed to 'dictated'
experience. See Primary Purpose/Back to Basics movements], and upon which we
can join in brotherly and harmonious action. This is the great
news this book carries to those who suffer from alcoholism.
An
illness
[disease theory of alcoholism] of this sort—and we have come to believe it an illness—involves those about us in a way no other
human sickness can. If a person has cancer all are sorry for him and
no one is angry or hurt. But not so with the alcoholic illness, for
with it there goes annihilation of all the things worth while in
life. It engulfs all whose lives touch the sufferer’s. It brings
misunderstanding, fierce resentment, financial insecurity, disgusted
friends and employers, warped lives of blameless children, sad wives
and parents—anyone can increase the list.
We
hope this volume will inform and comfort those who are, or who may be
affected. There are many.
Highly
competent psychiatrists who have dealt with us have found it
sometimes impossible to persuade an alcoholic to discuss his
situation without reserve. Strangely enough, wives, parents and
intimate friends usually find us even more unapproachable than do the
psychiatrist and the doctor.
But
the ex-problem drinker who has found this solution, who is
properly armed with facts about himself [ie.
knows what he/she's talking about], can
generally win the entire confidence of another alcoholic in a few
hours. Until such an understanding [on
both sides – this is a two-way process] is
reached, little or nothing can be accomplished.
That
the man who is making the approach has had the same difficulty, that
he obviously knows what he is talking about, that his whole
deportment
shouts at the new prospect that he is a man with a real answer [ie.
it's not just a 'front'!], that he has no attitude of
Holier Than Thou [cult
members take note], nothing whatever except the
sincere desire to be helpful; that there are no fees to pay, no
axes to grind, no people to please, no lectures to be endured [If
only! Again cult members might like to take this section into account
when next tempted to subject some newcomer to yet another tedious
monologue!] —these
are the conditions we have found most effective. After such an
approach many take up their beds and walk again.
None
of us makes a sole vocation
of this work, nor do we think its effectiveness would be increased if
we did. We feel that elimination of our drinking is but a
beginning. A much more important demonstration of our principles
lies before us in our respective homes, occupations and affairs [in
other words recovery should be something more than a mere show ie.
“practice these principles in all our affairs”!].
All of us spend much of our spare time in the sort of effort which we
are going to describe. A few are fortunate enough to be so situated
that they can give nearly all their time to the work [this
statement seems to contradict the one made at the beginning of the
paragraph]
If
we keep on the way we are going there is little doubt that much good
will result, but the surface of the problem would hardly be
scratched. Those of us who live in large cities are overcome by
the reflection that close by hundreds are dropping into oblivion
every day. Many could recover if they had the opportunity we have
enjoyed. How then shall we present that which has been so freely
given us?
We
have concluded to publish an anonymous volume setting forth the
problem as we see it. We shall bring to the task our combined
experience and knowledge [note
the distinction: experience AND knowledge]. This
should suggest
[not 'dictate' - we still can't find any reference to alcoholics 'ordering' other alcoholics around - must come later in the book!] a useful program for
anyone concerned with a drinking problem.
Of
necessity there will have to be discussion of matters medical,
psychiatric, social, and religious. We are aware that these matters
are, from their very nature, controversial. Nothing would please us
so much as to write a book which would contain no basis for
contention or argument. We shall do our utmost to achieve that ideal.
Most of us sense that real tolerance of other people’s
shortcomings and viewpoints and a respect for their opinions are
attitudes which make us more useful to others [“most
of us”, that is, other than cult members]. Our very
lives, as ex-problem drinkers, depend upon our constant thought of
others and how we may help meet their needs [“their
needs” not ours!].”
(our
emphases)
Coming
next – Chapter 2 There Is A Solution (contd)
Cheerio
The
Fellas (Friends of Alcoholics Anonymous)
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